Candidates on the November 2 general election ballot will face off in three debates Thursday evening, September 23, at Saint Paul United Methodist Church, 11th and “M” streets. The public is invited to attend the debates. The schedule is:

6 to 6:30 p.m. - County Commissioner District 2 candidates Larry Hudkins, the Republican nominee and incumbent, and Wayne Boles, the Democratic nominee. The moderator will be Ruth Ann Lyness, a host from Aging Services' “Live and Learn” program on 5 CITY-TV.

6:45 to 7:15 p.m. - County Commissioner District 4 candidates Bernie Heier, the Republican nominee and incumbent, and Mike Donlan, the Democratic nominee. The moderator will be Nancy Intermill, President, Lincoln-Lancaster Women's Commission.

Lancaster County Commissioners are elected on a county-wide, at-large basis.

7:30 to 9 p.m. - Nebraska's Congressional District 1 candidates Matt Connealy, the Democratic nominee, Jeff Fortenberry, the Republican nominee, and Steve Larrick, the Green Party nominee. The winner of the November 2 general election will replace U.S. Representative Doug Bereuter, who is retiring. The congressional candidates have been asked to be present by 6:30 p.m. to give citizens an opportunity to visit with them in the separate campaign literature distribution area prior to their debate. The moderator of the Congressional debate will be Sandra Powell, President, League of Women Voters of Nebraska.

Timers will be Danja Pegram-Siders, Lincoln-Lancaster Women's Commission, and Jan Gauger, League of Women Voters member and a representative of the North 27th Business and Civic Association. The debate coordinator is Sharon Nemeth of the League.

Parking is available at the church parking garage, which is entered from 11th Street, and at a lot directly across from the church on 11th Street, which has a $1 fee. The debates will take place in the church's dining room, which can be reached by entering the church's west doors. Church members will have mail-in registration forms, absentee ballot request forms and election information brochures from the Lancaster County Election Commission at the west entrance.

The debates will be taped for showing on 5 CITY-TV, the government access cable channel. The schedule will be available on the City web site at lincoln.ne.gov. The debate will also be available through video-on-demand through the Web site.

The League of Women Voters of Lincoln-Lancaster County are sponsoring the debate with Aging Services/Lincoln Area Agency on Aging, the Lincoln-Lancaster Women's Commission, the North 27th Business and Civic Association and Saint Paul United Methodist Church. Funding for the Congressional debate is provided by debate co-sponsors and the League of Women Voters of Nebraska Education Fund. Funding for the airing of the County Commissioners debates is provided by the League of Women Voters of Lincoln-Lancaster County Education Fund.